Developer- and Publisher-specific Articles: Crafting

The hybrid builder and role-playing game Dragon Quest Builders is now available for PS4 and PS Vita. Players enter a world overrun by monsters, and they must do their part to set things right by gathering materials and crafting items that are needed to rebuild the realm of Alefgard. In addition to constructing new structures, players must also battle the forces of the Dragonlord.

Capcom is celebrating the ten-year anniversary of Dead Rising with the release of three newly updated titles: Dead Rising, Dead Rising 2, and Dead Rising 2: Off the Record. They are offered on a variety of platforms, with a mixture of physical and digital releases. All of the titles come bundled with their associated downloadable content, and have been upgraded to run in 1080p at 60fps. That’s a lot of zombie slaying, but players have plenty of time to catch up with Frank West’s origins, and fellow protagonist Chuck Greene, before Dead Rising 4 launches on December 6.

Dragon Quest Builders received something of a 101 trailer today. Titled What is Dragon Quest Builders?, the video covers a little of everything in the hybrid RPG-builder. The footage goes over the backstory as well as the quests that players will undertake, characters they will meet, enemies they will battle, and buildings they will construct.

Monster Hunter Generations received the first of several free monthly download drops today. Of particular note are the two included Felyne skins, one based on Amaterasu from Okami and the other on Link from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. Both can be equipped on support companions controlled by the AI or directly by the player in Prowler mode. Additionally, the freebie includes 10 quests as well as armor and weapon sets for Felynes and hunters.

NIS is teaming up with Natsume to release a limited edition of Harvest Moon: Skytree Village. The set includes a copy of the game, 44-page softcover art book, soundtrack, six-piece lapel pin set, blue feather rubber-strap keychain, and a collector’s box. Skytree Village follows series tradition in allowing players to romance a partner, get married, have children, and make their way in the world by farming. New crops, flowers, and a fishing mechanic have been added, along with a cast of characters who live in the nearby town.

Dragon Quest Builders, Square Enix’s upcoming hybrid sandbox construction and role-playing game, will be launching as a Day One Edition. Pre-orders and first-run copies will come with several exclusive in-game recipes: Gold Block, Slimy Block, and Springtide Sprinkles. The North American cover art was also released along some new screenshots showing off the bonus goods.

Monster Hunter Generations has launched digitally and physically for 3DS. The latest entry in the long-running series tasks players with taking down the Fated Four as they craft new gear with resources harvested from lesser monsters. Players can tackle the quest solo or with up to three friends. The game is compatible with all Nintendo 3DS systems, and a themed, game-less XL is also available, the Nintendo 3DS XL Monster Hunter Generations Edition. To see players off on their adventure properly, a free downloadable drop, the Starter Pack, has gone live to give them a leg up with extra potions, traps, and other goodies. More downloads are in the works, with free quests set to go live the first Friday of every month through the rest of the year. These will also include costumes based on other series, such as Fire Emblem, Okami, and The Legend of Zelda.

A new mini-game has launched for the console versions of Minecraft, Battle. The free update includes the mode as well as three maps, and more map packs are planned to launch in the future for $2.99 each. The last-man-standing mode has players battle for resources and weapons in booby-trapped arenas. The maps were designed specifically for consoles so that they are “super-accessible and fast-paced, made to support couch-based competition just as easily as online matchmaking.”

Nintendo’s E3 Treehouse broadcast revealed more about Monster Hunter Generations. The stream covered new info on the mechanics and a live gameplay demo of the upcoming crafting-heavy action role-playing game. Also announced was a general playable demo that will feature three monsters, with difficulty levels for everyone from newcomers to veterans, online and local multiplayer for up to four players, and new beasts. The demo will be available on eShop on June 30, though select players will receive a code allowing for early access today, while others can purchase early access via Humble Bundle’s E3 2016 Digital Ticket. The 15-minute-long Treehouse stream has been posted alongside a new trailer that introduces some of the new Deviant mo